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Helena Christensen in Bathing Suit Says "Perfect Day for a River Swim"

Here are 9 ways the supermodel stays fit at 53

Helena Christensen is swimming in a cold river – in her swimsuit. The Danish supermodel shows off her forever young body in two of her latest social media posts, wearing a swimsuit while taking a dip in freezing waters. "Perfect day for a river swim," she captioned one of the posts. How does she stay so fit? Read on to find out and learn about 9 ways Helena Christensen stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1

She Loves Ice Baths

Helena likes to soak in cool water. "Freezing your ass off-benefits," she wrote in the caption of a recent Instagram post. She added that ice baths can help reduce stress, boost the immune system, relieve pain, combat inflammation and arthritis with anti-Inflammatory properties, boost your metabolism, help with weight loss, improve circulation, promote lymphatic drainage, "oh and it makes your happier," she added. "Start little by little and work your way up to 10mins, I'm not there yet 🥶 cold showers and bathtubs with ice works too." She loves soaking in cold water outdoors. "Cold water swimming season has begun," she captioned a post. 

2

She Dances

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Helena loves pole dancing. "It is the hardest physical activity I have ever done in my life and I have so much awe and respect for pole dancers. It's like virtual ballet to me, so the perception of it as seedy doesn't even annoy me; it goes right over the top of my head. To people who think like that, I want to say, 'well, you just go try it," she explained to Harper's Bazaar UK

3

She Sprints

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

"Sprint, don't run, because that immediately sparks your metabolism and stuns your body by engaging your muscle groups in a very explosive way," Helena told Harper's Bazaar. "I can't run for 40 minutes at the same pace, listening to music. I will do 20 minutes and then I'm dying. I don't do the long, methodical routines of swimming 40 laps either. I want to be in the ocean fighting waves, not being in the pool staring at the clock and only seven minutes has passed when I'm already exhausted."

4

She Incorporates Nature into Exercise

"I think it's important to shake it up and do as many different forms of workout as possible, but also to incorporate nature into them," Helena told the Daily Mail. "Swim in the ocean, swim in rivers, swim in lakes. Hiking, trekking, chopping wood – it's the best way of working out, because it doesn't really feel like a workout. It feels like you're alive."

5

She Does Yoga

JP Yim/Getty Images

Helena is a yogi. "It took me years to get into yoga because I wasn't into the whole spiritual thing. I didn't want to go to a class and have to chant, though I know it helps so many people. I finally found a place where we get right into it, and I end up leaving completely re-energised and totally sweaty," she explained to Harper's Bazaar.

6

She Doesn't Diet

Helena stays away from diets. "I'm not the kind of person who will limit myself to any kind of food," she told Allure. "I could not live without bread and pasta. I eat real butter and drink whole milk. And I'm obsessed with Japanese food and Moroccan stews. So when I think about working out, yes, it's good for the mind — but it's also because I eat a hell of a lot of food." 

7

She Meditates

Craig Barritt/Getty Images

Helena also meditates "I can't just sit still and think of a mantra or repeat a thought or a word. But there are other ways of finding your stillness," she told Allure. "Sometimes I do it by organizing or cleaning. I recently took up piano again, and that is a very good way of being in a calm zone by myself and using my mind differently. That's my form of meditation. The key is to find what works for you." 

8

She Sleeps

"I feel absolutely the best when I have had good sleep," Helena told Harper's Bazaar UK. "That's my number one priority. I actually think it is the number one priority for most people. It just changes your entire day – when you haven't had enough sleep and also when you have."

9

She Boxes

Helana also loves boxing. "For me, working out is about instant gratification; I want to see changes if I'm going to put the effort in! My thing is boxing – I like to feel strong," she told Harper's Bazaar. "Boxing might seem like a male-orientated sport but there are as many women where I go and that is a very authentic, sweaty club."

Leah Groth
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related. Read more
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